Zotac’s latest mini-desktops feature Sandy Bridge chips

Zotac has been offering a line of tiny desktop computers for a few years. Up until recently most feature low power Intel Atom or AMD Fusion processors, but this month Zotac unveiled new models with Intel second-generation Core i3 Sandy Bridge processors.

In other words, the Zotac ZBOX ID82 isn’t just a mini-PC aimed designed for people looking for a computer for light-weight duties or multimedia playback only. It’s a full-fledged PC capable of replacing your desktop.

Sure, the Intel Core i3-2330M isn’t the most powerful CPU on the market. But it’s a 2.2 GHz, dual-core, 64-bit chip with 3MB of cache and Intel HD 3000 graphics. It’s designed for laptops, which means it’s more energy efficient than most recent Intel desktop chips, but if you have a laptop that’s a few years old, odds are the Zotac ID82’s processor is way faster.

The desktop isn’t much larger than a typical DVD drive, but it has room for a 2.5 inch drive, support for up to 16GB of memory, HDMI and S/PDIF output, 2 USB 3.0 ports and 4 USB 2.0 ports.

Like most members of the Zotac ZBOX family, the ID82 ships without an operating system, but Zotac will offer at least two models. One will come with memory and a hard drive while the other lacks those components, letting you build your own PC.

In addition to the Zotac ZBOX ID82, this month the company unveiled the Zotac ZBOX nano ID61 desktop with a 1.3 GHz Intel Celeron 867 dual core CPU and the Zotac ZBOX Blu-ray AD05 PC with a 1.65 GHz AMD E-450 E-450 dual core processor and a Blu-ray drive.

Prices for the new mini-PC models haven’t been released yet, but all three new desktops should be available for purchase soon.

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When did USB 4.0 hit? OMG! Brad, you might want to look at the spec sheet and update that.

Otherwise this looks great. Same box Zotac loves to ship with 2 SO-DIMM slots, room for even a thick 2.5″ drive, and a SNB Core i3, which is plenty powerful enough to drive 2 22″ displays if all you want to do is business work. Too bad I NEED a OpenCL compliant GPU, which the SNB isn’t even though Intel claims otherwise. Otherwise I could strap one of these onto the back of one of my Vesa mounts and have another box in my cube without my boss being any the wiser.

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This is what happens when you type too fast. I meant to say 4 USB 2.0 ports… I don’t know where the 1 came from. 🙂

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